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Alaska population grows since census

JUNEAU (AP) -- The latest estimate of Alaska's population has been completed by the state Department of Labor.

State demographer Greg Williams told KINY-radio that Alaska grew between the 2000 census and July 1 by 2.7 percent, or 16,866 people. The state's population as of July 1 was 643,786.

Most of the growth came in the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Juneau was one of two areas in Southeast that saw an increase in population, which amounted to .4 percent. The capital saw 618 births but an ''outmigration'' of 348, for a population of 30,981.

Sitka increased by .3 percent.

The biggest percentage drop in the region and in the state was the 4.9 percent fall in the Yakutat Borough.

The biggest increase, 4.2 percent, occurred in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Anchorage had a net increase of 1.5 percent and grew to 269,070 residents.